Fables, Tales, and Folklore – Fenland

Future events:

In addition to these dates, other events in Cambridgeshire can be found via the following links to clubs in Cambridge and Ramsey

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About Fables, Tales and Folklore

The dates for meetings will be held in the last week of each of the months, close to the four quarter days -

End January (Candlemass/Imbolc) – National Storytelling Week

End April (Mayday/Beltaine)

End July (Lammas/Harvest/Lughnasah) – an outdoor open meeting if possible

End October (Halloween/Samhain)

The group started meeting in April 2004 under the name of March Storytelling Group and changed their name to Fables, Tales and Folklore - Fenland to reflect a slight change of focus. The aim of the group is to give adults a chance to listen to, and perhaps, tell stories themselves (though there will never be any pressure on anyone to tell a story if they do not want to). All adults are welcome to attend and entry charges are kept as low as possible. For further information use the contact form on this website.

Meetings are from 7.30 - 9.00pm. unless otherwise stated.

All adults are welcome to attend - check this website to see if there are any entry charges.

Last updated 29th October 2015

REPORTS ON PAST MEETINGS

October 2015

A group of us met at the Oliver Cromwell Hotel, March for an evening on the theme of tales of Ghosts and Witches. Stories, which included Scottish Lairds, Black Shuck, Lancaster bombers, fairies, the Irish famine, alligators and pumpkins were told by Malcolm Busby, Alan Lamb, Maureen James and Stuart Broad.

July 2015

A cosy group of tellers and listeners gathered at Gault Wood, March on Thursday 23rd July, to enjoy this year's Stories in the Woods. A number of great stories, including the traditional tales of Robin Hood and the Potter, How the Owl came to be and The Peddlar of Swaffham (with a recently discovered Norfolk variation), as well as a number of humorous tales, were told by Maureen James, Malcolm Busby, Alan Lamb and Guy from Exning.

April 2015

The traditional story of St George and the Dragon was shared by The Travelling Talesman aka Cliff Eastabrook at March Town Hall on 24th April 2015.

The event was organised by Fables, Tales and Folklore to enhance the town's celebrations of the saint's day which took place two days later.

During the evening Cliff not only told some of the varied tales of St George, but also entertained the audience with the stories of Ymir the frost giant and Molly Whuppie and her sisters.

January 2015

Tales of the Fens in times long ago, and of Fenmen long gone, of smallholders, tramps, soldiers and railwaymen, held the audience spellbound in the ballroom of the Oliver Cromwell Hotel on Friday 30th January when storyteller Alan Lamb came to the Fables, Tales and Folklore quarterly meeting. Alan, who was born in Sutton St Edmund, Lincolnshire, but now lives in Farcet had come to March to tell just a few short tales, but ended up keeping the listeners entertained for almost ninety minutes. Maureen James, coordinator of Fables, Tales and Folklore said “Alan is a delightful storyteller. His gentle south Lincolnshire accent and his unassuming manner enabled those listening to become completely immersed in his stories. It was as if you were watching a film in your own head!” A charity collection was also held during the evening, which raised £60 for Parksinson’s UK. Thanks were also given to the Oliver Cromwell Hotel for allowing the group to use the room for the event, which also heralds the start of this year’s National Storytelling Week.

Autumn 2014

As Maureen's Cambridgeshire Folk Tales book was published by the History Press in October it was decided not to hold an official FTF meeting. Instead everyone was invited to attend either the official launch event at March Library or one of a number of other similar events at libraries in Wisbech, Whittlesey, Huntingdon, Cambridge (Central) and Warboys.

July 2014 meeting

12 people came along to Gault Wood, including a couple from Market Deeping, to enjoy a walk around the wood followed by a mellow evening of stories told by Maureen James, Malcolm Busby and Stuart Broad. Alan Palmer, one of the Friends of the Wood also gave a true account of finding evidence that seemed to indicate that a 'big cat' may have been in the wood a few years ago.

April 2014 meeting

March Museum was the venue for our April meeting during which Malcolm Busby expertly told the tale of Nancy the Waterman. Nearly all seats were filled as Malcolm wove the intricate tale of the cross-dressing waterwoman with diverse stories of dark nights, drunkeness and debauchery. Described as “better than Dennis of Grunty Fen” Malcolm certainly proved the truth of this statement.

January 2014 meeting

A warm and welcoming audience enjoyed the performance of On Common Ground by Hugh Lupton on Friday 31st January at March Town Hall Arts Centre. In the first half Hugh told some of the tales that John Clare would have heard whilst growing up in Helpston and after the interval he explored the life of John Clare and the impact of the Enclosure of the land upon his life. Maureen James would like to thank Hugh for the wonderful, thought provoking, performance, Stuart for sorting out the technical aspects and Liz Wright, Mick Knight, Malcolm Busby and Nigel Headdon for help with stewarding, refreshments and selling raffle tickets.

October 2013 meeting

Sadly Paul Jackson was poorly and unable to join us to tell tales for Halloween, however the meeting still went ahead with Maureen James and Malcolm Busby telling suitably atmospheric stories. The small group of people at the meeting, at the Golden Lion, Stonea, enjoyed the tales of 'Two by the Gate', 'The Crows', The Vanishing Hitch-hiker', 'The Everlasting Club' and 'The Bagman's Story' told by Malcolm and 'Jack o' Lantern', 'Fearless Mary', 'The Drunken Rioters' and 'The Holbeach Gamesters' by Maureen, who also led a discussion on the origins and customs of Halloween.

July 2013 meeting

A small crowd gathered at Dunham's Wood, by kind permission of Margaret Dunham (this might be our last meeting at the wood, as it, and the house are up for sale). During the evening Maureen James told the story of the first English Civil War at the time of Stephen and Matilda and also related the tale of Tom Hickathrift, the Wisbech giant. Malcolm Busby also told a couple of stories including a version of The Three Sillies.

July 2010 meeting

There was a really good turnout for the July meeting at Dunham's Wood with people coming from March, Chatteris, Cambridge, Little Downham and even Northamptonshire. The weather stayed dry (though overcast) whilst we all enjoyed a selection of stories including 'The Girl who didn't like spinning', King Herla, Three Wishes, Peddlar of Swaffham, Yallery Brown and The Prince and the Thorn Bush. Some of the group also enjoyed the delightful tour of the woods by the ever entertaining Arthur Dunham.

April 2010 meeting

This meeting was cancelled as life got a bit too complicated for the organisers.

January 2010 meeting

We played host to a group of tellers from the Ramsey Storytellers and were entertained with a number of enthralling stories which included 'John Leach and the Devil' told by Louise Douglas and 'Brother Frolic' by Bill Thompson. There was also a brief discussion on Candlemas, St. Blaise, Lighting and Folklore and also National Storytelling Week.This meeting was once again held at the Old Griffin.

October 2009 meeting

Back once again at the Old Griffin Hotel in March we were welcomed into the Quiet Room where we found a lovely storytellers chair by the (unlit) fireside. A lively group then enjoyed a short discussion on Samhain and keep-safes followed by a selection of Halloween stories told skilfully by Malcolm Busby and Maureen James.

July 2009 meeting

Once again a lively group enjoyed a fine evening at Dunham’s Wood with a selection of tales and a tour of the wood with Arthur Dunham.

April 2009 meeting

This meeting was cancelled due to the arrival of the first grandchild of Maureen James. (A lovely little boy who was given the name of Jack – no doubt he will be hearing lots of stories of his namesakes as he grows up!).

January 2009 meeting

A small but lively group enjoyed our first venture to Wisbech. We chose the back room at the White Lion Hotel as the setting for a very special evening with guest storyteller Helen Frances. All sat transfixed as Helen told a wide range of stories from around the world including “The Three Chicory Pickers”; The Double-faced Ghost”; “Death and the Apple Tree”; “The Shepherd Boy” and “The Ant and the Penny”.

October 2008 meeting

Paul Jackson came along to this meeting, which was held for the first time in Chatteris (in the studio above The Honest John freehouse). A lively group sat in the darkened, candlelit room to enjoy a short discussion on Halloween traditions and superstitions followed by Paul telling a selection of Halloween stories that sent a shiver down the spine and ensured that when we all got home, we checked that the doors and windows were firmly shut and bolted before we retired to our beds.

July 2008 meeting

A large group of us enjoyed another fine evening at Dunham’s Wood with a selection of harvest themed stories and a tour of the wood with Arthur Dunham.

April 2008 meeting

This was our final meeting at the Rose and Crown. The theme was Mayday/Beltane and a number of stories were told. There was also a brief discussion on May customs and traditions particularly the bringing in of the May flowers on May morning.

February 2008 meeting

We had another quiet meeting at which tales included the King of All Craftsmen, Persephone and the origins of the seasons, and Dick Whittington. There was also a discussion on the significance of the Hare in Easter traditions and folklore and a brief look at other customs of the time of year.

January 2008 meeting

We were pleased to welcome two members of Ramsey Storytellers to the meeting. Bill Thompson and Lindz Cooke entertained us with various tales of magical birds, cunning poachers and much more. There was also a discussion on National Storytelling Week and its links to Candlemas and the feast of St Blaise.

November 2007 meeting

Winter was the theme of the November meeting at which a small group of listeners heard some festive tales in preparation for the coming season.

October 2007 meeting

A very special guest came along to the October meeting. Alan Woollard, who was born in March (and went to Hereward School) but now lives in Exeter, entertained a good crowd with tales including the ‘Jack o’ Lantern’, ‘The Two Farthings’ and ‘The Vampire Bats’. Malcolm Busby from Cambridge also came to the meeting and told the tales of ‘Thomasina Reade’, ‘Romans in the Fens’ and ‘the skeleton and the dog’. Other stories told included ‘Jack Ostler’, ‘The Buried Moon’, ‘Esteban and the Bones’ and ‘Halloween on the Fens’.

September 2007 meeting

Paul Jackson was our unexpected, last minute and most welcome guest at this meeting. Paul is a sculptor, artist and professional storyteller from Norfolk who has gained quite a reputation for his almost ethereal style of storytelling which is often enhanced by his playing of music, particularly the African Kora. He has been a regular performer at Hinchingbrooke Country Park telling Halloween stories (which sadly won’t be happening this year due to the demise of the roundhouse) and has also told stories at Stonea Camp.

August 2007 meeting

Due to a change in commitments, we did hold an August meeting. The highlight of the evening was Arthur Dunham’s telling of the strange and eerie Fenland tale of George the Stockman. A number of other stories were told including a couple of Jack stories, Guy of Warwick, Cap o’ rushes and the Lambton Worm.

July 2007 meeting

Attendance was small, probably because quite a few people were going to see a performance of ‘Tales of the Fen’ by Maureen James, which was scheduled for the following night. Those that attended discussed some of the folk traditions connected with the harvest. A number of stories were also told including ‘Why Raven has Blue Eyes’, ‘Jack Ostler’ and ‘The wisdom of George Buchanan’

June 2007 meeting

A lovely evening was spent at Dunham’s Wood where, after a short tour of the site, the heaven’s opened. We sat in the marquee and at Jaffa Cakes while enjoying summer stories including ‘One tree hill’ and ‘Robin goodfellow’. Margaret Dunham also entertained us with the tale of the Eenie Gleish – the little folk that live in the wood!

May 2007 meeting

Meeting cancelled as co-ordinators in France.

April 2007 meeting

The April meeting of March Storytelling Group marked the third anniversary of the founding of the club, and during the evening the tales of heroes were told including that of St. George. Maureen James, group co-ordinator explained that “we will be telling the story to acknowledge St George’s day, and thought this might be a good opportunity to tell stories of other English hero figures too”.

March 2007 meeting

The March meeting was quieter as the co-ordinator forgot to send a reminder to the members and the press!

February 2007 meeting

At the February meeting of March Storytelling Group, a number of tales of the Civil War, Puritanism, Witchcraft and Drainage that relate to the Fens plus a selection of other short stories on different themes were told.

January 2007 meeting

Some of the stories collected from ordinary people in the Fens during the late nineteenth century were told at the first meeting in 2007. The stories, collected by W H Barrett and published in the 1960s include The Grey Goose Feather and The Legend of Gold Hill. A number of other short stories were also told.

November 2006 meeting

Winter tales was the theme for the final meeting of the year with the meeting have a festive feel.

October 2006 meeting

Tales for Dark and Stormy Nights was the theme for the meeting with Andy Jennings from Lowestoft (who regularly MCs and tells stories at March Summer Festival) as guest storyteller for the evening.

September 2006 meeting

The theme of stories for the evening was the Harvest, Food and Farming.

July 2006 meeting

A great selection of stories were told at the July meeting of March Storytelling Group which was held at Dunhams Wood by kind invitation from Margaret & Arthur Dunham. A large group of people turned up to enjoy the warmth of the summer evening, the beauty of the wood, and to hear stories told by Maureen James and Stuart Broad from March, Richard Storey from Ramsey and Nigel Preston-Jones from Cambridge.

The evening started with Maureen telling the short tale of Jack Ostler and the Hare and this was followed by Richard telling a story a story about three brothers and their family farm. Nigel followed with a delightful telling of the story of Peruonto from the Italian collection ‘The Pentamerone” and Stuart telling the tale of the Seven Swans of Welney. Arthur Dunham then entertained the group with an account of the history of the wood and then took everyone on a short guided tour around it before they finally came back to hear a short rendition of why this land was known as Albion, how it became Britain, and what happened to the giant Gogmagog.

June 2006 meeting

Maureen James, co-ordinator of March Storytelling Group told stories of the fairy folk at the meeting on June 26th from Maureen explained that “the fairy folk were believed in the past to be very powerful at midsummer, a fact recognised by William Shakespeare when he wrote his Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

May 2006 meeting

A quiet meeting with local stories told.April 2006 meeting

The April meeting of March Storytelling Group marked the second anniversary of the founding of the club, and during the evening the story of St. George was told by Richard Storey from Ramsey. Richard, who runs Ramsey Storytellers, also told a tale of King Alfred.March 2006 meeting

A varied selection of Irish stories were told at the March Storytelling Group, in recognition of it being St. Patrick's day on 17th. Stories included a number of tales about the 'other crowd' - the fairy folk who lived in the old prehistoric forts which are found across Ireland.February 2006 meeting

A varied selection of Welsh stories filled the line up for the meeting of March Storytelling Group, which was held last Monday 27 th. Stuart Broad and Maureen James along with Richard Storey from the Ramsey Storytellers were the main tellers during the evening which was held in the lounge of the Olde Griffin Hotel. Maureen James, group co-ordinator explained that Welsh Stories had been chosen as the theme in recognition of the fact that it was St David’s day on 1 st March and added that next months theme will be stories from Ireland.January 2006 meeting

March Storytelling Group had their first meeting after the Christmas break on Monday 23rd January in the lounge of the Olde Griffin Hotel, High Street, March. During the evening an attentive group of listeners heard the stories of ‘Mr Leach and the Devil’, ‘The Dead Moon’, and ‘Yallery Brown’, told by co-ordinator Maureen James and a story from ‘The Decameron’ and one on how some of the Cambridgeshire villages got their nicknames from Malcolm Busby of the Cambridge storytellers.November 2005 meeting

A very entertaining story of what happened when a jester lost his ability to laugh was one of the many tales told at the meeting of March Storytelling Group on Monday November 28th. The story of ‘the funniest jester’ told with skill by Malcolm Busby from Cambridge was accompanied by the stories of ‘‘Billy’s Rose ’, ‘The Tinker at King Arthur’s court’, ‘Grandfather Frost’ and ‘Sir Cleges and the Christmas Cherries’ told by others in the group.Hugh Lupton evening 2005

Jack Ostler, Tom Hickathrift, John Chapman and Mucky Porter, all characters from East Anglia’s past, came alive once more in the imaginations of the audience at the Town Hall Arts Centre, last Wednesday. You could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium, so quiet were the listeners as Hugh Lupton, internationally renowned storyteller, took the audience around ‘The Mardling Acre’. The performance of folk-tales, legends, music and song was truly delightful and enjoyed by over 60 people, the majority from March, but others from as far afield as Ramsey, Wisbech and Cambridge.

The Mardling Acre performance was organised by March Storytelling Group with support from Fenland Arts Association and arts @ March Town Hall. Maureen James, co-ordinator of the Storytelling Group was really pleased with the event and commented that “it was great to see so many people in the new arts centre, it is an ideal venue for storytelling as it is both spacious and yet, with the lights down, it feels intimate. Hugh was brilliant as usual. His stories came alive and with music, song and poetry, we were given a night to remember”.

The event has also enabled the Storytelling Group to raise funds which can be used to pay expenses to encourage other professional storytellers to come to the town as guests at the group’s monthly meetings.October 2005 meeting

A lively group of people gathered in the lounge of the Olde Griffin Hotel, High Street, March on Monday for the October meeting of March Storytelling Group. Storyteller Helen Francis, a guest from Derbyshire a regular teller at the ‘Flying Donkeys’ club in Derby started the evening with a lively story from Japan. She was followed by contributions from others including members from the Cambridge and Ramsey storytelling groups who told a selection of stories, some from Britain and others from Europe. Helen rounded off the evening with a selection of stories from around the world.September 2005 meeting

A very entertaining Arabic story about a miser who wore very old, highly mended, smelly slippers which proved, in the end, to be his undoing was one of the many tales told at the meeting of March Storytelling Group on Monday September 26th. The story of ‘Abu Kassim’s slippers’ told with skill by Richard Storey from Ramsey was accompanied by the stories of ‘The Birth of Taliesin ’, ‘The blind man and the hunter’, ‘The Lambton Worm’ and ‘Sun, wind and frost’ told by others in the group.August 2005 meeting

At the meeting of March Storytelling Group on Monday August 22nd. Maureen James, co-ordinator of the group told the story of Dick Whittington, the ‘true’ story of a young lad who travelled to London in search of his fortune and became Lord Mayor of the city. Maureen also told a number of other stories including the ‘King of the Craftsmen’, Cerridwen’s Cauldron’ and ‘Truth and Story’ and Stuart Broad told the story of the ‘Green Ladies’.July 2005 meeting

“Easy come, Easy go” was the name of the story that kicked off the July meeting of March Storytelling Group. Storyteller Andy Jennings, a guest from Suffolk and a regular visitor to March Summer Festival, started the evening with the lively tale from Holland about the exploits of a skipper of a fishing boat, a woman, her husband and a parson. Andy followed this with a story from Russia about a gossipy wife and then there were contributions from others which included versions of the Peddlar of Swaffham, The Green Children and Jack Ostler. The evening was rounded off by Maureen James and Andy with two African tales. Maureen said that “it was a lovely evening with some excellent stories – it is great to have the chance to hear other tellers from other counties”.June 2005 meeting

The story of the ‘Emperors New Clothes’ started off the June meeting of March Storytelling Group which was held last Monday 27th June in the Lounge of the Olde Griffin Hotel, March. Richard Storey, from the Ramsey Storytellers told his version of the Hans Christian Anderson story to a small audience of listeners and was followed by Stuart Broad and Maureen James telling tales of Robin Hood. The evening ended with the story of Thomas Hickathrift, the Wisbech Giant.April 2005 meeting

March Storytelling Group celebrated its first birthday on Monday 25th April with a number of new faces joining the gathering in the lounge of the Olde Griffin Hotel, High Street, March. The audience were kept entertained during the evening with a variety of tales, many of which were collected in the local area including the Tale of the 'Witches of Warboys', which was postponed from last month; 'Jack Ostler'; 'The Brotherhood of the Greygoose Feather' and 'The Death of King John'. This meeting was a rather unusual one in that there were not representatives from the Ramsey or Cambridge Storytellers and so Maureen James and Stuart Broad did most of the telling of the varied selection of stories.March 2005 meeting

The meeting of the March Storytelling Group on Easter Monday attracted a smaller group than usual. In view of the smaller audience, and because the co-ordinator, Maureen James was suffering with a sore throat, it was decided to postpone the telling of the story of the Witches of Warboys, a true account of the experience of Alice Samuel who was hanged with her husband and daughter on April 6th 1593 to a future meeting. However, a few local stories were shared during the evening and a discussion took place regarding ideas for future storytelling events.February 2005 meeting

An Australian Aboriginal story started off the February meeting of March Storytelling Group, which was held last Monday 28th. This tale, told in his usual engaging manner by Bill Thompson from Ramsey, heralded an evening of stories from far and wide and from many historical time periods. Stuart Broad also told an Aboriginal tale; Maureen James, the group organiser told the second half of the Norse Saga of Sigurd the Dragonslayer; Malcolm Busby, from Cambridge, a tale from the One Thousand and One Nights and Richard Storey, from Ramsey, a tale from Africa.January 2005 meeting

An attentive audience listened to a wide selection of stories when March Storytelling Group had their first meeting after the Christmas break on Monday 24th January. During the evening Maureen James treated the attendees to 'Frederigo's Falcon' and 'Sigurd the Dragonslayer' and Malcolm Busby from the Cambridge Storytellers, told the stories of 'Volund (or Wayland) the Smith', 'How the Robin got it's red breast' and rounded off the evening with a ghost story set on the fens near Pymoor.November 2004 meeting

A selection of Christmas stories, from the cheery to the poignant were included in the programme for the final meeting of the year of March Storytelling Group. Maureen James, group organiser explained that the storytellers were getting into the spirit of the season by telling a selection of stories including a lively Medieval version of Sir Cleges and the sad Victorian tale of Billy's Rose.October 2004 meeting

A lively group of people gathered in the lounge of the Olde Griffin Hotel, High Street, March on Monday for the October meeting of March Storytelling Group. Storyteller Helen Francis, a guest from Derbyshire a regular teller at the 'Flying Donkeys' club in Derby started the evening with a lively story from Japan. She was followed by contributions from others including members from the Cambridge and Ramsey storytelling groups who told a selection of stories, some from Britain and others from Europe. Helen rounded off the evening with a selection of stories from around the world.September 2004 meeting

At the meeting of March Storytelling Group on Monday September 27th a number of stories were told including 'Jack and the Devil', 'The Peddlar of Swaffham', 'Hodja and the Banquet' and 'Yallery Brown'. The 'prize' for the most entertaining story of the evening must go to Malcolm Busby from Cambridge who told 'Sadko the Dulcimer Player', a fascinating Russian story with a twist at the end, about a musician who preferred to play tunes by the River Volga than going out in the evening.August 2004 meeting

Yallery Brown, the Lincolnshire tale of a young man who rescued a strange creature from under a 'strangers stone' was one of the tales told at the meeting of March Storytelling Group on Monday August 23rd. Maureen James, the co-ordinator also told a number of other stories including the Roman tale of 'Cupid and Psyche' and 'Prince John and the Abbot of Canterbury'.July 2004 meeting

The story of Mucky Porter and the Brotherhood of the Grey-goose Feather kicked of the July meeting of the March Storytelling Group. The story concerned the escape of King Charles I across the Fens during the English Civil War in the company of Mucky Porter, the landlord of the Fleece Inn at Southery, a member of the Brotherhood. This was followed by a short story about mice and a tale about Simple Peter. A smaller group than usual attended the meeting as a number of the tellers were resting after performing at a Stories and Music event in Cambridge on Sunday. Consequently the meeting changed into a general sharing of local anecdotes and a discussion on the nature of storytelling and the misconceptions of the public about our work. We need to stress that the stories are TOLD and not read from books. This gives them a dynamism that comes from the storyteller being able to make eye contact and respond to the audience as one does in normal conversation.June 2004 meeting

March Storytelling Group met again last Monday 28th June with a lively evening of stories most of which were set in the local area. Maureen James, the group organiser started the evening by telling the story of St Etheldreda. This was followed by stories told about Hereward, the pre-drained fens, fairies and medieval peasants. There was also a very entertaining ghost story from Cambridge told by Teresa Benison who lives in that city, and who regularly attends the Cambridge group.Report on second meeting

The story of Brycstan of Chatteris started off the second meeting of March Storytelling Group which was held last Monday 24th May in the Lounge of the Olde Griffin Hotel, March. Maureen James, the group organiser told the story of the Anglo-Saxon man who narrowly escaped death through a miracle of St Etheldreda and St Benedict and who ended his days, and old monk at Ely. This was followed by stories from England, Scotland, Europe and the USA on topics as diverse as silkies (seal people), caged birds, wise kings, and people's relationship with the land and the weather. The meeting was once again pleased to welcome members of the Cambridge and Ramsey storytelling groups.Report on first meeting April 2004

A lively group of people gathered in the lounge of the Olde Griffin Hotel, High Street, March on Monday 26th April for the first meeting of March Storytelling Group. Master storyteller Bernard Tagliavini, from Sussex, a former actor who has appeared in a number of West End musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar, Blood Brothers, Les Miserables and Oliver, and who diversified into storytelling about 10 years ago, started the evening with a lively story from Madagascar. He was followed by contributions from others who had come to enjoy the evening, including members from the Cambridge and Ramsey storytelling groups who told a selection of stories, some from the Fens and others from further afield. Maureen James, the group organiser told a 17th century story about Robin Goodfellow before Bernard rounded off the evening with a story that had everyone roaring with laughter and gave them all a 'smile' to take home.

Maureen is now looking to persuade other storytellers to guest at the club, though without any funds yet, she will have to find tellers who are either in the area, or passing through to tell stories in return for their supper (as did Bernard)!!! As a former Director of the Society for Storytelling this should not be too difficult, but if any of you know of any storytellers who may be in the March area on the fourth Monday of any month please let her know!